Pump top re-forming machine



1939- A. H. ALTVATER 2,154,862

PUMP TOP RE -FORMING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1934 2 She etS-Sheet 1 July 4, 1939. A. H. ALTVATER PUMP TOP RE-FORIING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP TOP RE-FORMING MACHINE Application May 22, 1934, Serial No. 726,920

25 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines which are used in the manufacture and repair of shoes to press the uppers of finished shoes.

Heretofore several difiterent types of these machines have been used commercially toperform various kinds of pressing operations on the uppers of finished shoes, While the types of machines and the kinds of operations have varied widely, heretofore these machines have had one 10 common characteristic, namely, an inside mold or shaping form engaged with the rear end of the shoe, the toe end of the shoe being left unsupported. I-Ieretofore, considerable difficulty has been experienced in the use of these machines owing to the outward buckling of the unsupported camp of the shoe generally along the longitudinal center line thereof, resulting curiously in a weakening or cracking of the vamp along a line intersecting the longitudinal so center line.

The present invention represents an improvement on the reforming machine disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 699,028. As err-.- plained in said application, when a low-cut shoe is pulled from a shoe-making last, the strains to which the shoe is subjected cause irregularities in the skirtings along the straightruns of the top edge of the shoe, spread the skirtings outwardly so that the interior linings at the sides of the shoe are unduly exposed, and generally rob the shoe of the trim appearance intended by its :designer and sought after during the various shoe making operations.

The re-forming machine disclosed in my said "pending application is provided with inside and outside metallic shaping forms adapted to coact for pressing the skirtings along the top edge of a shoe. While these outside forms are removable, in the sense that they are not integral with their supporting arms, they are not readily removable, that is, not adapted for the rapid sub- .stitution of other forms as occasion requires.

Rapid substitution of forms is a matter of prac- "tical importance for several reasons. Metallic forms are not adapted for use on some kinds of upper materials, and consequently non-metallic forms must be used. Also, in operating upon a case lot of low-cut shoes, pumps for example, it is desirable to have more than one length of .50 outside shaping forms to take care of variations in the lengths of the straight runs of the top edges. The matter of formlength is also of importance in using the machine on low-cut shoes other than pumps or on shoes provided with 55 throat ornaments. As will be shown hereinafter,

even the color of the shoes has a bearing on the use of different shaping forms. In view of the above, it will be seen that in operating upon lowcut shoes of different types, colors of upper materials and top edge straight run lengths, a 5 rapid substitution or interchangeability of shaping forms to suit the particular work is commercially desirable.

As a practical matter in commercial shoe production, when the distortion of the upper caused 10 by the last pulling operation is considerable, it sometimes happens that the straight runs along the top edge of the shoe are not positioned in the machine properly with respect to the inside mold or shaping form for the pressing operation, with 16 the result that the outside pressing forms do not engage the portion of the upper to be pressed in the intended manner.

The principal objects of the present invention are to produce a machine by which the uppers 20 of finished shoes may be pressed Without danger of buckling the vamp of the shoe during the pressing operation, by which the portions of the upper to be pressed may be positioned in substantial conformity with the shaping contour of the inside mold or shaping form prior to the pressing operation, and in which the outside pressing forms are readily attachable and detachable to permit their rapid interchange and thus adapt the machine for use on different types of shoes, top edge straight lengths, and colors of the upper materials.

To the accomplishment of these objects, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the various features of the present invention reside in certain devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts fully set forth hereinafter and then pointed out broadly and in detail in the appended claims, possessing advantages which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The various features of the present invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the best form of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which;

Figure 1 is a view in right side elevation of the reforming machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in sectional plan on the line 2--2, of Fig. 1, with a shoe in the machine and the operating handle pulled forward;

Fig. 3 is a view in sectional plan on one of the outside shaping forms;

Fig. 4 is a view in right side elevation, partially in section, of the re-forming machine with the right hand swinging arm removed to show underlying parts;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in front elevation of the reforming machine;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in front elevation showing the swinging arm, the form supporting plate, and the shimming of the rocker plate;

Fig. '7 is a view in plan of the re-formed shoe; and

Fig. 8 is a View in front elevation of a Bakelite outside shaping form.

For the purpose of disclosure the shoe operated upon by the re-forming machine is illustrated and described as a low-cut shoe, herein shown for convenience as a pump 8 (Fig. '7) the top edge 9 of which is bound with French cord and comprises a curvature II] at the front, a curvature I I at the rear, and straight runs I2 and I3, between the curvatures ID and II, on opposite sides of the shoe, respectively, As is well known to those skilled in the art, the upper I4 and the lining I5 (Fig. 2) of the pump 8 are secured together by various seams, one of which comprises the topseam l6 (Fig. 2) lying close to and running along the top edge 9. For convenience herein, the inner and outer surfaces of the shoe 8 lying close to and running along the straight runs I2 and I3 of the top edge 9 are each designated as the skirting. The upper I4, at the rear of the shoe, is closed by a back seam (not completely shown) exposing to view a back seam crease I! (Fig. 7).

The pump 8 illustrated in Fig. 7, representing a low-cut shoe after it has been operated upon by the re-forming machine, shows the desirable straight character of the runs I2 and I 3 intendedby the designer and sought to be attained throughout the various shoe-making operations. These runs I 2 and I3 are distorted and are caused to gape under the strains to which they are subjected during the last pulling operation. The distortion or gaping robs the shoe of its trim appearance, rendering it unfit for window display and creating a distinct sales resistance. B-y subjecting the pump 8, after the last pulling operation, to the action of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the original attractive lines of the runs I2 and I3 are restored (Fig. 7).

The re-fo-rming machine is arranged in a manner similar to the machine disclosed in my pending application referred to above, so that the skirtings of the completed shoe, subsequent to the last-pulling operation, may be presented between inside convex surfaces I8 (Fig. 2) formed on the opposite lateral sides of an inside mold I9, and Outside concave mold surfaces 20 formed, respectively, on outside shaping forms ZI and 22, as the shoe is presented to the inside mold with the toe of the shoe pointed downward and its sole vertical and facing the operative.

The inside mold I9 is identical with the inside shaping form disclosed in my pending application referred to above, and constitutes the enlarged front end of a flat vertically arranged arm 23 fixed to and extending forwardly from a head 24 at the rear of the machine.

The outside shaping form 2| differs from the corresponding shaping form, made of metal, disclosed in my pending application, As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, the form 2| comprises a solid rubber base portion 25 one face of which is provided with a facing 26 of a different material, vulcanized into the rubber or adhesively secured thereto. Embedded in the rubber base 25 are two studs 21 and 28, the heads of which extend outwardly from the rear face of the base adjacent the top end and the center of said face, respectively.

The use of rubber as the base for the outside shaping form marks a distinct advantage over the use of a metallic form. The desired contour of the shaping surface of a rubber form may be obtained by molding, whereas the proper shaping contour can be given to a metallic form only by machinery and otherwise finishing it after it is cast. The cheapness of rubber and the ease with which it can be molded accurately make it a more desirable and economical material to use than metal.

The facing 26 with which the shaping surface 20 of the outside shaping form 2! is provided may be a felt facing, in which case the shoe is directly engaged during the re-forming operation (Fig. 2) by a soft surface. However, since the fibrous nature of felt renders it unsuitable for use with certain types of leather, the form 2i may be given a smoother and more even operative surface by providing it with a facing 26 of grain surfaced leather. Excellent results may also be obtained by using a shaping form 2Ia (Fig. 8) made of Bakelite. This substance combines the desirable properties of both metal and rubber, since it has an almost metallic hardness and smoothness and since, like rubber, it can be easily molded.

The outside shaping form H is adapted for ready attachment to and detachment from the machine. To this end, the form 2| is mounted on a flat plate 29 which is detachably connected, as will be described hereinafter, to the front end of a flat, vertically arranged swinging arm 39, formed and pivotally hung at its rear end on a bracket 3| carried by the head 2 5, in a manner identical with the corresponding arm disclosed in my pending application, referred to above. The plate 29 is provided with an upper vertical slot 32 (Fig. 1) and with a lower L-shaped slot 33, the short dimension of the flange of which extends vertically downward. The slots are adapted to receive, respectively, the shanks of the studs 27 and 28 on the shaping form 2 I. To lock the form. 2| in its operating position on the plate 29, a small depending keeper 34 is loosely pivoted to the plate 29 above the slot 33 so as to cover a portion thereof and hang with its bottom edge substantially in engagement with the head of the stud 28. With this construction the form 2i may be removably secured to the plate 29 in operating position,

The form 2i may be quickly removed by merely swinging the keeper 34 away from the stud 28, lifting the form 2i so that the stud 28 leaves the vertical part of the L-shaped slot 33, and then swinging the form outwardly, with the stud 2? as a pivot, as indicated in construction lines in Fig. 1. Another form may be readily substituted by placing its stud 21 in the slot 32, swinging the form down against the front edge of the plate 29 with the stud 27 as a pivot, raising the form slightly in engagement with the plate to cause the stud 28 to enter the slot 33 and swing the keeper 34 rearwardly, and then pushing the form downward to lodge the stud 28 in the vertical part of the slot 33. With this operation both studs are positioned in their respective slots, and the keeper 34 swings back under gravity over the stud 28.

To secure the plate 29 to the swinging arm 30, the plate is provided with two holes 35, one of which is indicated in Fig. 2, which receive loosely, respectively, the shanks of bolts 36 and 3'! (Figs. 1, 2, and 5) threaded into the arm 39. Interposed between the plate 29 and the arm 39 is a transversely concave-convex rocker plate 38 provided along its center line with two holes 39 which receive loosely, respectively, the shanks of the bolts 36 and 31. The convex face of the rocker plate 38 engages the plate 29, and heavy springs 40, coiled about the shanks of the bolts 36 and 31, respectively, and interposed between the heads thereof and the plate 29, resiliently hold the plate 29 in engagement with the rocker plate 38 along its center line. As shown in Fig. 6, a shim 4| is carried by the shank of the bolt 31 and is interposed between the outside face of the arm 38 and the rocker plate 38. This shim construction, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter, causes the plate 29, and therefore the shaping form 2|, to extend downwardly slightly to the right, viewing the front of the machine.

The outside shaping form 22 is constructed and is mounted in a manner similar to the shaping form 2|. That is, the form 22 is received by a plate 42 mounted like the plate 29 on the front end of a flat, vertically arranged swinging arm 43, like the swinging arm 30, pivotally hung at its rear end on the bracket 3|. The plate 42 engages a rocker plate and is shimmed like the plate 29, so that it extends downwardly slightly to the left, viewing the front of the machine. With this construction thetwo plates 29 and 42, and the shaping forms carried thereby, converge upwardly.

In order to move the outside shaping forms toward and from the inside mold, the arms 23, 38, and 43 (Fig. 2) receive loosely a horizontal bolt 44 connecting the yoked arms 45 of a lever 46 provided with an operating handle 41. The yoked arms 45 embrace the outside faces of the arms 30 and 43, and each of the arms 45, above and below the bolt 44, is provided with a stud 48 extending through the arm and provided with a rounded end. The rounded end of eachstud engages a wedge block 49, two of which are carried on the outside face of the arm 38 and two of which are carried on the outside face of the arm 43. To maintain the studs in any position of adjustment, each stud is provided with a locknut 59.

When no work is in the machine, the lever 46 occupies the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the outside faces of the swinging arms 36 and 43 are forced into engagement with the yoked arms 45 of the lever 46 by a spring coiled about the bolt 44 and interposed between the arms 30 and 43 (Fig. 2). With this construction the outside shaping forms 2| and 22 normally clear the inside mold |9 as shown in Fig. 5, thereby providing suflicient room for the application of a shoe to and its removal from the inside shaping form. When the handle 41 is pulled forwardly by the operative, the rounded ends of the studs 48 travel along the inclined surfaces of the wedge blocks 49, thereby forcing the arms 39 and 43 to swing towards each other and causing the outside shaping forms 2| and 22 to engage the work and press it against the inside shaping mold l9. It will be apparent that since the spring 5| forces the wedge blocks 49 into engagement with the studs 48, a turning of the studs in either direction will vary the extent of movement of the outside shaping forms and this in turn will vary the pressure exerted by the forms against the shoe. In order to lock the outside shaping forms in pressing position, the inclined surfaces of the wedge blocks 49 terminate in fiat surfaces 52, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The operative shaping surfaces |8 of the inside mold l9, like the corresponding surfaces on the inside shaping form disclosed in my pending application above referred to, are convex and are of uniform curvature throughout their length to simulate approximately the vertical curvatures at the opposite sides of the last to which the skirtings of the shoe are drawn during the lasting operation. Moreover, the operative shaping surfaces l8 on opposite lateral sides of the mold l9 converge vertically from the bottom thereof to the top in order to simulate approximately the longitudinal converging of the opposite sides of the shoe-making last towards the heel end thereof. That is, each operative surface l8 has a relation to the median line of its mold simulating the relation between a side of the shoe-making last and its median line.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the curvature ID of the top edge of the pump extends out of the plane of the straight runs l2 and l3. In order to accommodate the inside mold I9 to this abrupt change in direction of the curvature i9 and to permit the form to enter the shoe, the bottom of the mold is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly extending nose 53. This nose enters the shoe and extends under the vamp adjacent its throat.

As shown in Fig. 4, the top of the inside mold l9 engages the inside of the shoe at its heel and constitutes a support from which the shoe is suspended. The nose 53 extends only a slight way into the toe portion of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby leaving the toe end of the shoe to hang freely. It has been found that when a shoe is so mounted on the mold l9 and the outside shaping forms are moved to press the skirtings against the inside mold, there is sometimes a tendency for the vamp, generally along the longitudinal center line thereof, to buckle or to be crimped, resulting in its weakening or cracking. Stated in another way, the desirable appearance (Fig. '7) of the straight runs l2 and I3 is achieved, but not infrequently at the expense of injury to the vamp. The appearance of the shoe is spoiled as a consequence, and the shoe may even be rendered unfit for sale. It should also be pointed out that when the distortions of the shoe resulting from the last pulling operation are considerable, there is the chance that when the outside shaping forms engage the skirtings of a freely hanging shoe and move them into engagement with the inside mold, the skirtings may not be properly positioned with respect to the forms and so may be permanently wrinkled as the result of pressmg.

To prevent possible injury to the vamp during the reforming operation and also to prevent wrinkling of the skirtings, the present invention contemplates the provision of means for holding the vamp against buckling or crimping during the application of pressure to the skirtings and for positioning the shoe on the inside mold |9 so that the skirtings will be in substantial conformity with the shaping contour of the inside mold prior to the application of pressure by the outside shaping forms.

To these ends an arm 54 (Figs. 1 and 4) is pivoted at one end to the head 24 and extends forward under the arm 23 to a point near the inside mold l9. Pivoted to the free end of the arm 54 is a bent strip 55 comprising a forwardly extending short arm 56 provided with depending ears 51 for attachment to the arm 54 by means of a pin, and a longer arm 58 bent downwardly and rearwardly at an acute angle to the arm 56. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the arm 58 is transversely concavo-convex, corresponding to the curvature of the median portion of the shaping surface of the mold I9, and the concave face of the arm 58 is adjacent the mold IS. The free end of the arm 58 is provided with a block 59 adapted to be inserted into the toe portion of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 4, and the length of the arm 58 is such that the short arm 56 clears the curvature ID of the top edge of the shoe. Upward movement of the bent strip 55 on the arm 54 is yieldingly prevented by a leaf spring 66 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, and a coil spring 6| connects the head 24 and the arm 54 and tends to pull the arm 54 downward. To limit the downward movement of the arm 54 under the influence of the spring 6|, the arm is pivotally secured to the depending wings of a U-shaped clip 62 (Figs. 1 and 4) the crosspiece 63 of which (Fig. 2) rests normally on a run 64 of the arm 23 formed by cutting away part of the rear portion thereof.

With this construction the operative positions the shoe in the machine by first inserting the block 59 into the shoe and then pulling the shoe upward against the tension of the spring 61 to cause the nose 53 of the inside mold I9 to enter the shoe. The shoe is then pulled further upward against the tension of the spring GI and the heel end is pushed along the top of the mold I9 so as to rest upon it, as shown in Fig. 4. The length of the arm 56 is such that the concave surface of the arm 58 engages the mold l9 when the shoe is thus mounted for re-forming, and by making the arm 58 of sufficient length so that the arm 56 will clear the curvature IQ of the largest size shoe in the series, the construction shown provides for the proper positioning of shoes of all sizes.

The construction embodied in the arms 54, 5t and 58, the block 59, and the spring 5|, has several effects upon the mounted shoe. The force exerted by the spring 6I causes the arm 58 to be held against the inside mold I9 and also causes the block 59 to force the vamp, generally along the longitudinal center line thereof, against the convex face of the arm 58. In this manner the vamp is securely held taut so that it cannot buckle or crimp or pull away from the nose 53 and the arm 58 during the re-forming operation. The force exerted by the spring 5|, acting downwardly through the block 59, also causes the skirtings of the shoe to be drawn more or less taut over the inside shaping mold I9, and as a result, the skirtings, even when considerably distorted as the result of last pulling, are drawn toward each other substantially into engagement with the shaping surfaces I3 of the inside mold.

Broadly considered, the stationary mold I 9, the arm 58 and the block 59 constitute an inside shaping form which is normally maintained fully extended by the spring 5! but which is contracted by the act of inserting the inside shaping form into the shoe. When the inside shaping form is within the shoe the springs 63 and BI hold the mold I9 and the block 59 firmly against the rear and toe ends of the shoe, respectively. Thus the inside shaping form is contractible by the act of inserting the inside form within the shoe to adapt the inside shaping form automatically to the particular size of shoe to be re-formed. The springs 56 and 5! also hold the arm 58 engaged both with the mold I9 and with the shoe under the vamp generally along the longitudinal center line thereof.

In order to gage the position of the shoe on the inside mold I9, a bracket 65 (Fig. 1) is secured by screws to the top of the arm 23 and to the back of the inside mold with one arm of the bracket extending vertically above the mold as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. This vertical arm engages the top edge 9 of the shoe in the vicinity of the back seam crease If and thus limits the rearward position of the shoe in the machine.

It will be seen that the tautening of the shoe on the inside shaping form by the action of the springs 69 and BI serves to hold the shoe on the form in its gaged position and so prevents any accidental shift of position that might occur were the shoe merely loosely suspended from the top of the form. It will also be seen that the tautening of the shoe effected by the springs serves to smooth out the back seam by pulling it against the top of the form.

In order that they may coact with the operative shaping surfaces I8 of the inside shaping form, the operative shaping surfaces 2!] of the outside forms 2| and 22, respectively are concave and are of a uniform curvature corresponding to the curvature of the shaping surfaces I8. Since the surfaces I8 converge vertically from the bottom of the mold It to its top, and since the swinging arms 39 and 43 are vertically arranged, the shims M (Fig. '7) serve to cause the plates 29 and 52, and therefore the outside shaping forms 2i and 22, to converge upwardly in a manner corresponding to the upward convergence of the surfaces is on the mold 59. This is indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, and by this construction the operative surfaces 20 of the outside forms 25 and 22, respectively, are substantially equally spaced from the coasting surfaces I8, respectively, when the operating handle 4'! is pushed rearwardly or when no work is in the machine.

Viewing Fig. 2, however, it will be seen that when the operating handle 4'! is pulled forwardly to cause the outside shaping forms 2i and 22 to engage the shoe mounted on the inside form, the forms Hand 22 are not equally spaced throughout their operative surfaces from the respective coacting surfaces E8. When the operating handle is thus pulled forward, the resistance offered to the movement of the forms ZI and 22 by the shoe causes the plates 29 and 42 to rock on the rocker plates 38 (Fig. 2) resulting in the divergence of the plates, and therefore of the forms 28 and 22, from the rear to the front of the machine. The amount of this divergence is limited by stops 51 carried by the plates 29 and 42 and adapted to engage the swinging arms 35 and 53, respectively.

The purpose of this construction, permitting a rocking and a forward divergence of the operative surfaces of the forms 2i and 22 in engagement with the work, is to subject the margins of the skirtings adjacent the top edge 9 to greater pressure than the opposite margins of the skirtings. When the top edge 9 is provided with a binding such as a French cord or an imitation thereof, the rocking of the forms 2i and 22 insures that the binding will not be harmed. By this arrangement the proper pressure is applied to smooth out the skirtings, re-form them into the positions in which they were molded on the shoe-making last during the lasting operation, and stiffen the straight runs I2 and I3 of the top edge so that they will stand up in their natural positions in the finished shoe.

The effectiveness of the outside shaping forms 2| and 22 is increased by the heavy springs 40 which press the plates 29 and 42 against the rocker plates 38, respectively, along their center lines when no work is in the machine. When the forms 2| and 22 engage the work, the rocking of the plates 29 and 42 over the rocker plates causes the springs 40 to be compressed. With this construction, the skirtings of the shoe are subjected to compressed spring pressure in addition to the pressure determined by the adjustment of the studs 48 engaged with the wedge blocks 49.

It should be pointed out that if the skirtings of the shoe are so thick that the stops 6'! engage the arms 30 and 43 during the rocking of the outside shaping forms before the operating handle 4! is fully pulled forward, the plates 29 and 42 will bodily lift away from the rocker plates 38, thereby being pivoted on the studs 61 and swung in this position to increase the compression of the springs 40.

The outside shaping forms 21 and 22 are illustrated and described herein as being detachably mounted on the plates 29 and 42, respectively, thereby permitting a rapid substitution of forms. This is a matter of great practical importance with respect to shoe color and style, and also with respect to the material of which the shaping forms are made. The construction of the forms themselves has been hereinbefore stated. It will be seen that in working on large lots of shoes, involving the use of different kinds of leather, ready substitution of outside shaping forms is highly desirable.

But the difference in leathers is only one factor making rapid substitution of outside forms desirable. The color of the shoes is another factor, and this is of importance when the forms have a facing 26 of leather or of felt. It has been found that the dressing on the shoes tends to stick to leather and felt at times, so that in changing from a case of black shoes, for example, to a case of white shoes, there is the possibility of the black dressing on the form discoloring the white shoes. The different types of leather of which shoes are made is also of importance in this connection since dressings set in different types of leather with different degrees of permanence. As a consequence, it is necessary as a practical matter that there be separate forms for each color of dressing, and to a certain extent, for each type of leather.

As regards style, the present invention has been illustrated and described as used for reforming a pump, but it is obvious that it is adapted to re-form other types of low-cut shoes. For example, it is adapted to re-form shoes provided with buckles or other ornaments at the throat of the vamp, and also to re-fornr shoes such as oxfords or bals. .In the event that such types of shoes are to be re-formed, outside shaping forms considerably shorter than the forms. illustrated are desirable because the straight runs along the top edge of the shoe are frequently shorter than in the case of a pump, or the buckles or other ornaments must be cleared to prevent injury to them. The effect, of a short shaping form can, of course, be gained by cutting away the lower portion of the shaping surface of a long form so that it clears theornaments. The advantage gained by the speedy substitution of forms permitted by the stud and slot arrangement herein disclosed is obvious when various lots of these types of shoes are being r-e-formed.

As shown in Fig. 5, the upper ends of the outside shaping forms 2| and 22 terminate a substantial distance from the center of the top of the inside shaping mold l9. With this construction, the upper ends of the shaping forms 2| and 22 are spaced from the back seam crease I! when a shoe is being re-formed, and as a result do not press that portion of the shoe upper materials which are directly supported by the counter.

When desired, heat may be supplied to the inside shaping form through a cartridge heating unit 68 (Fig. 4) electrically connected by wiring 69 to some suitable source of power and mounted within a chamber 10 formed in the front face of the inside shaping mold I9 and covered by a detachable cover ll.

Nothing herein explained is to be interpreted as limiting the various features of the present invention in the scope of its application to use in connection with the particular machine or the particular mode of operation or both selected for purposes of illustration and explanation. While the particulars of construction herein set forth are well suited to one mechanical form of the invention and to the use to which it is-put, it is not limited to this use, nor to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential since they may be modified Within the skill of the artisan Without departing from the true scope of the actual invention, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claims by the intentional use of generic terms and expressions inclusive of various modifications.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In a re-forming machine, the combination with an inside form and outside forms to press the skirtings along the top edge on opposite sides of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, of means for holding the vamp of the shoe taut generally along the longitudinal center line thereof during the pressing operation.

2. In a re-forming machine, the combination with an inside form and outside forms to press the skirtings along the top edge on opposite sides of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, of means for holding the skirtings taut in substantial engagement with the shaping contour of the inside form prior to the application of pressure by the outside forms.

3. In a re-forming machine, the combination with an inside form and outside forms to press the skirtings along the top edge on opposite sides of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, of means for holding the skirtings taut in substantial engagement with the shaping contour of the inside form prior to the application of pressure by the outside forms and the vamp of the shoe taut generally along the longitudinal center line thereof during the pressing operation.

4. In a re-forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having substantially complementary surfaces for pressing against the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe to re-form the upper, the inside form being contractible to enter the shoe, means for causing the inside form when in the shoe to extend from the rear to the toe ends thereof, and means for causing a relative movement between the inside and outside forms with respect to their complementary surfaces to effect the reforming pressure.

5. In a re-forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having surfaces for contacting with the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe, said inside form being adjustable lengthwise in accordance with the length of a shoe placed thereover, and means for relatively moving said forms to press said upper therebetween.

6. In a re-forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having substantially complementary surfaces for contacting with the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe, the inside shaping form being contractible to enter the shoe and being provided with means for causing it to extend within the shoe from the rear to the toe ends thereof automatically irrespective of the size of the shoe.

7. In a re-forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having substantially complementary surfaces for contacting with the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe, the inside form comprising elements adapted to engage the rear and toe ends, respectively, of the shoe, and means for urging said elements apart so that thedistance between their opposite ends 'is normally greater than the distance between the rear'and toe ends of the shoe, said inside form being contractible against the influence of the urging means by the act of inserting the inside form within the shoe and in its condition of insertion and contractionengaging the rear and toe ends, respectively, of the shoe.

8. In a re-forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having substantially complementary surfaces for pressing the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe to reform the upper, the inside shaping form having a part engaged with the rear end of the shoe, a part engaged with the toe end of the shoe, and a part engaged with the shoe under the vamp generally along the longitudinal center line thereof, and means for causing a relative movement between the inside and outside forms with respect to their complementary surfaces to effect the re-forming pressure 9. In a re-forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having substantially complementary surfaces for contacting with the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe, the inside shaping form having a part engaged with the rear end of the shoe, a part engaged with the toe end of the shoe, and a part engaged with the shoe under the vamp generally along the longitudinal center line thereof, an extension of said last named part being engaged with the first named part.

10. In a re-forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having substantially complementary surfaces for contacting with the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe, the inside shaping form comprising a stationary mold engaged with the rear end of the shoe, a block engaged with the toe end of the shoe, and a supporting arm for the block engageable with the stationary mold, said arm being supported outside the shoe.

11. In a re -forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having substantially complementary surfaces for contacting with the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe, the inside shaping form comprising a stationary mold engaged with the rear end of the shoe, a block engaged with the toe end of the shoe, and a supporting arm for the block engaged with the stationary mold, said arm being supported outside the shoe, and means connected to the arm outside the shoe tending to engage the arm both with the stationary mold and with the vamp of the shoe generally along the longitudinal center line thereof and to separate the mold and the block.

12. In a re-forming machine, the combination with an inside shaping form and an outside shaping form to press the skirting along at least one straight run of the top edge of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, of means for holding the said skirting run taut in substantial engagement with the shaping contour of the inside form prior to the application of pressure by the outside form.

13. In a re-forming machine, the combination with an inside shaping form and outside shaping forms to press the skirtings along the top edge on opposite sides of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, of means for holding said skirtings taut in substantial engagement with the shaping contour of the inside form prior to the application of pressure by the outside forms.

14. In a re-forming machine, the combination With an inside shaping form accessible to the operative for placing a shoe thereon, and outside shaping forms movable toward and from the inside form at opposite sides thereof to press the skirtings along the top edge of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, of means for preventing a shift of position of the shoe on the inside form during the movement of the outside forms.

15. In a re -forming machine, the combination with an inside shaping form accessible to the operative for placing a shoe thereon, and outside shaping forms movable toward and from the inside form at opposite sides thereof to press the skirtings along the straight runs, respectively, of the top edge of the shoe into conformity to the shaping contours of the opposite sides, respectively, of the inside shaping form, of means including rocker members permitting the outside forms to rock during their movement about axes parallel to the longitudinal center line of the inside form.

16. In a re-forming machine, the combination with a head, an inside shaping mold fixed to said head and accessible to the operative for placing a shoe thereon, an arm on each side of the inside mold pivoted to the head, and a pair of outside shaping forms to press the skirtings along the top edge of the shoe against the shaping contour i of the inside mold, of means for mounting the outside forms on the arms, respectively, including a rocker member secured to each arm and a form support resiliently secured to the arm in engagement with the rocker member.

17. In a re-forming machine, the combination with a head, an inside shaping mold fixed to said head and accessible to the operative for placing a shoe thereon, an arm on each side of the inside mold pivoted to the head, and a pair of outside shaping forms to press the skirtings along the top edge of the shoe against the shaping contour of the inside mold, of means for removably connecting the outside forms to the arms, respectively, including a form support, provided with slots, secured to each arm and studs carried by the forms for insertion in the slots.

18. A re-forming machine having, in combination, a head, an inside mold fixed to said head and accessible to the operative for placing a shoe to the arm, including a slotted member carried by the arm and studs carried by the form for insertion in the slots, and a keeper maintaining the studs in the slots.

19. In a re-forming machine, coacting pressing molds having substantially complementary shaping surfaces for pressing the inner and outer surfaces of the skirting along at least one straight run of the top edge of a shoe. to re-form the upper, at least one of said molds comprising a solid base portion a surface of which is one of the complementary shaping surfaces, and being provided with a shoe-contacting surface of a different material from the remainder of said mold.

20. In a re-forming machine, the combination with a head, an inside mold fixed to said head and accessible to the operative for placing a shoe thereon, an arm on each side of the inside mold pivoted to the head, a pair of outside shaping forms to press the skirtings along the top edge of the shoe against the shaping contour of the inside mold, and form supports carried by the arms, of means for removably securing the outside forms to the form supports.

21. In a re-forming machine, the combination with an inside form and outside forms to press the skirtings along the top edge on opposite sides of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, said outside forms being movable towards and away from the inside form about axes parallel to the longitudinal center line of the inside form, of means for holding the vamp of the shoe taut generally along the longitudinal center line thereof during the pressing operation.

22. In a re-forming machine, the combination with an inside form and outside forms to press the skirtings along the top edge on opposite sides of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, said outside forms being movable towards and away from the inside form about axes parallel to the longitudinal center line of the inside form, of means for holding the skirtings taut in substantial engagement with the shaping contour of the inside form at least during the movement of the outside forms towards the inside form.

23. In a re-forming machine, the combination with an inside shaping form accessible to the operative for placing a shoe thereon, and outside shaping forms movable towards and away from the inside form to press the skirtings along the top edge on opposite sides of a shoe against the shaping contour of the inside form, said outside forms being movable about axes parallel to the longitudinal center line of the inside form, of means for preventing a shift of position of the shoe on the inside form during the movement of the outside forms.

24. In a re-forming machine, the combination with a head, an arm pivoted thereto, and an outside shaping form connected yieldingly to the arm, of means permitting a rocking of said outside shaping form during its yield.

25. In a re-forming machine, coacting inside and outside shaping forms having substantially complementary surfaces for contacting with the inner and outer surfaces of the upper of a shoe, to re-form the upper, the inside form being contractible to enter the shoe and remaining stationary therein during the re-iorming operation in a position extending from the rear to the toe ends thereof, and the outside forms being movable towards and away from the inside form.

ADOLF I-I. ALTVA'IER. 

